“Monkey-faced lambs are born in a flock of sheep in Spanish Forks, Utah” Scenario #2 Lab 12 Due: November 29, 2006 Melissa Hayden Erich Roush Laura Statz Harpreet Singh

Scenario #2 We have been asked to consult with a sheep rancher, Larry Spikes, in Spanish Forks, Utah. Lambs are being born with birth defects, as well as motor nerve paralysis

What we know from Mr. Spikes Because of the drought, the sheep herds had been left on mountain pastures ( ft) later into the fall breeding season than usual.

Problem Mr. Spikes is complaining of "monkey-faced" lambs. The lambs have a distorted upper jaw, cleft palate, cyclopia or pronounced proboscis above the eyes. The rancher also relates that some of the lamb crop had motor nerve paralysis.

Problem Many of the surviving lambs have shortened legs

Plants found in pasture area Corn Lily Lupine

Teratogen-Corn Lily “Corn Lily” Veratrum californicum The highest concentration of toxins are in the roots. Originally used medicinally by Native Americans for external use as a local anesthetic. Veratrum induces various craniofacial defects, specifically induced in lambs after pregnant ewes graze on the plant on the 14th day of gestation.

Corn Lily Toxicity Poisoning may occur in 2 to 3 hours after the animal eats the plant. Signs of Poisoning: * Excessive salivation with frothing * General body weakness - animal may be unable to stand * Irregular gait * Fast, irregular heartbeat * Slow, shallow breathing * Convulsions Ewes carrying monkey-faced lambs may fail to lamb at the end of gestation. The fetus may grow to an abnormal size and it could kill the ewe unless the lamb is delivered by surgery.

Corn Lily: Inhibitor mechanism Steroidal alkaloids cyclopamine and jervine isolated from Veratrum: primarily responsible for the malformations. Cyclopamine and jervine are potent teratogens that inhibit Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling during gastrulation-stage of embryonic development Shh normally encodes a signal vital for patterning the early embryo.

Teratogen-Lupine All parts of the lupine plant are toxic Cows and goats that eat lupines can pass toxins through their milk Toxicity can cause bone abnormalities in the forelimbs, spine and skull (scoliosis and cleft palate) Livestock that eat lupine in great quantities may die. Mothers that graze on lupine during days 40–70 of gestation may have affected lambs.

Lupine Toxicity Quinolizidine alkaloids cause neurologic problems in sheep and acute death. The teratogenic alkaloid, anagyrine, was identified and was shown to inhibit fetal movement, causing the limbs and spine to develop in abnormal positions. Signs of Poisoning * Excessive salivation; frothing at the mouth * Difficulty in breathing * Loss of all muscular control * Convulsions * Cleft palate and skeletal defects in fetus when grazed days gestation

Management (Corn Lily) Avoid grazing Veratrum for 30 days after breeding Reverse the grazing pattern so that the pregnant ewes are not in the Veratrum patches during early pregnancy. Herbicidal application of amine salts of 2,4-D at the rate of 1 kg per acre of acid equivalent after the last leaves have expanded and before bud stage. A second treatment may be required the following year.

Management (Lupine) Prevent grazing of lupine patches in the early growth stage and in late summer when the plant is in the highly toxic seed stage, and from dense plant stands at all times. Supplemental feeding is beneficial. Lupine can be controlled with 2,4-D (1 kg ae/Ac), 2,4-D + dicamba ( kg ai/Ac), or trichlopyr (0.25 to 0.75 kg ae/Ac). Spray actively growing plants after they are 10 cm high but before they bloom. Reinvasion is rapid and retreatment may be necessary every 4 to 5 years.

References Important poisonous plants on Rangelands vol. 27 Issue 5 Oct.2005 pg 3-9 BioOne Journal Reproductive toxicology in livestock. J.Anim Sci 1990;68:403-4 James L.F. Development of an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Veratrum Plant Teratogens: Cyclopamine and Jervine J. Agric. Food Chem., 51 (3), , /jf020961s S (02)

References p7/plants.cfm bin/abstract.cgi/jafcau/2003/51/i03/abs/jf s.html